Remaining Strong

Spirit & Life Devotional
Sunday, May 31
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Remaining Strong

Genesis 49.23-24. "The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel)."

Listen dear brothers and sisters, in this life, you will have enemies even if you try to please everyone; people will hurt you, they will stab you, they will frustrate you, disappoint you, betray you, insult you, step on your toes, and say all manner of things about you: these people include people you have been very good to. I'm not worried about them, but about you, about how their actions affect your attitude and your resolve. Will you remain strong or will you let them kill your spirit?

David said, “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth,' Let Israel now say— 'Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me. Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back.'" Amen!

The arms of Joseph were made strong by the hands of God. Today, my prayer is that God will help you to remain strong. I pray for you, that the archers of your life will never prevail against you. I pray for freedom from depression. I pray for deliverance from every form of bitterness. And I ask that God gives you new strength to move on and to accomplish more. Let all who hate you be put to shame and be forced to retreat! Amen.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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He Dwells With Us

Spirit & Life Devotional
Saturday, May 30
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

He Dwells With Us

Luke.19.5 "And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.'”

Imagine for a minute, Jesus as your roommate; I mean, physically; how would you feel? I doubt if there's a word that can accurately describe how you'd feel! But we walk by faith and not sight! Do you realize that Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, dwells with you now? Jesus said that He would be in us and with us!

Zacchaeus received Jesus joyfully: how excited and confident are we that the Lord of all lords dwells with us? We are not as conscious of His presence as we should. He said that He is with us always, even unto the ends of the world! When I'm sleeping He's with me! When I'm eating He's with me! When I'm working He's with me! He's always with me! He promised never to leave or forsake me!

These simple truths are the foundations for great faith and exploits. It is said that Smith Wigglesworth once woke up and saw the devil standing at the foot of his bed. And he said, "Oh, it's only you," and immediately rolled over and went back to sleep! Wow! That's a man who knew that greater was He with him than all others in the world combined. Your fears are unnecessary; live with the consciousness of Who is with you; the Boss of bosses, the Most Powerful, He who doesn't slumber or sleep, the One who knows tomorrow, the One in Whose hand are the hearts of the kings; He is your Big Brother and Friend! Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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As change occurs in Nigeria

As change occurs in Nigeria...

Today, Friday, May 29, 2015 is a remarkable and unforgettable one, especially for Nigerians.

Here are some important lessons I think all of us should learn:

1. That power belongs to God

"God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God." Psalm 62:11

2. Everything on earth is temporal

"For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

3. It is turn by turn

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that I may inaugurate him.' So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of meeting." Deuteronomy 31:14

4. Leadership is a privilege and not a right

"Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other." 1 Corinthians 4:6

5. God is not partial, He is not a respecter of persons

"Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.'" Acts 10:34-35

6. It's the plans of God that eventually prevail.

"There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand." Proverbs 19:21

7. You don't have all day to do whatever you need to do. Tomorrow is not a promise.

"Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" John 4:35

God bless the President
God bless the people of Nigeria
God bless Nigeria

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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God Knows Your Address

Spirit & Life Devotional
Friday, May 29
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

God Knows Your Address

Acts 9.11 "So the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.'"

I think it's comforting to know that God knows my house address; of course He's omniscient, that is all knowing, but realizing that He knows specific details about me makes me feel relaxed and confident.

An angel said to Cornelius, "Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” Brothers and sisters, what this tells me is that you will never miss whatever God has packaged for you! Whatever benefits and blessings He has dispatched to you will not be delivered to someone else but to you, in the name of Jesus!

Stop wondering how God will do it; stop saying that no one knows you in that place where you are; God has often used total strangers to bless His children in their homes! Hallelujah! God knows exactly where you reside, in any part of the world, therefore be rest assured that your safety and security are guaranteed! Maybe you're in dire need of help where you are, maybe you're so far away from home, I pray for you today that God will send you help from His sanctuary. The wise men travelled a long distance to deliver gifts to Jesus in an unknown address: I prophesy, you will receive goods things right where you are, from today, in the name of Jesus!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Standing In The Gap

Spirit & Life Devotional
Thursday, May 28
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Standing In The Gap

Numbers 16.48 "And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped."

Korah, Dathan, Abiriam and On, led the people in rebellion against Moses. To cut the long story short, about fifteen thousand people died as a result of a plague that came from the Lord. Many more would have died if Moses hadn't acted fast and instructed Aaron to take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, and incense, and take it to the congregation and make atonement for them: Aaron stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.

That tells me that God respects the prayers of intercessors.

God said in Ezekiel 22.29-31, "The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads."

In a world as ours, with people continually rebelling against God and living as they please, the ministry of the intercessors is very very important. Job interceded for his family every morning, in case they had sinned against God: it's something you and I must do regularly for our friends and our loved ones, and for the world at large; as priests of our homes, communities, states and nations, we must stand in the gap; we must pray; we must intercede on behalf of other men, women and children.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Praying To The Father

Spirit & Life Devotional
Wednesday, May 27
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Praying To The Father

Daniel 9.23 "At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision."

The way some of us behave some times, as if God is deaf, or unwilling to answer our prayers, or as if we are the ones that make Him answer our prayers! Until we understand how much He loves and cares for us, how much He is willing to do things for us, we will continue to err in prayer. God is our Father!

Jesus said, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." New Living Translation says, "It gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." And New American Standard Bible says, "your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom." It gives Him great happiness to answer our prayers; and before we even ask, He has chosen gladly to give to us! Hallelujah!

The angel told Daniel that he was heard from the first day! Matthew 6.7-8 says, "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Here's what God promised, that before we call, He will answer; and while we are still speaking, He will hear! Hallelujah!

That's why I'm always thankful; because when I have prayed, my faith is turned on, and I begin to thank Him for answering my prayers. It may not come when I expected it, but that doesn't mean He didn't hear me, so I just keep thanking Him! And guess what, He never disappoints! I don't just pray to "God", I talk to my Father.

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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Don't Mess With The Ark

Spirit & Life Devotional
Tuesday, May 26
Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Don't Mess With The Ark

1samuel 5.10 "Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. So it was, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, 'They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!'"

The Philistines captured the Ark in ignorance, not realizing the enormity of their error. And God began to deal with them beginning with their god, Dagon. The Bible says that the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. When the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.” So they carried the ark of the God of Israel away to Gath, and there too, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction; and He struck the men of the city, both small and great, and tumors broke out on them. From Gath, they sent the ark of God to Ekron. It was in Ekron that they cried out, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!” While the Ark was in the land of the Philistines the Bible says "there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. And the men who did not die were stricken with the tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven."

When the Israelites went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, God permitted no one to do them wrong; He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm! Ask Abimelech, when he took Abraham's wife, God immediately closed up the wombs of all the women in his house! Brothers and sisters, we are the apple of His eyes! Hallelujah!

Twitter: @PastorChinae
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